PANAJI
The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has urged the Centre and the Karnataka government to intervene immediately to prevent the reported closure of Kannada-medium schools in Goa, saying the move would violate the constitutional rights of linguistic minorities.
In separate letters to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, KDA Chairman Purushottama Bilimale expressed concern over reports that the Goa government is planning to shut down Kannada-medium schools that have been operating in the state for decades.
He appealed to both governments to ensure that the National Education Policy (NEP) is not used as a reason to close Kannada-medium schools or weaken regional languages and institutions serving linguistic minorities.
Bilimale also criticised the reported remarks of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that “students must adapt to changing circumstances”, saying the statement was disappointing and went against India’s commitment to “unity in diversity”.
He said thousands of Kannada-speaking families in Goa and along the Karnataka-Goa border have relied on these schools for decades, while Karnataka has continued to support students through higher education opportunities.
Bilimale also urged the Karnataka government to send a high-level delegation to Goa to hold discussions with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the state’s Education Minister.
